Letter from Paris

Sunday May 29, 2005 19:29

by Eoin Dubsky

Everyone in the house is getting ready to go out and vote. Polling stations in our area (Bagneux, one of the last two Communist towns left in Paris's former "red belt" suburbs) are closing at 9 or so. Nina and I (we're engaged - did I say?) are then off for a non-party with some friends. I can't vote here, but I've been following some of what others have been saying here, and would like to share a few observations with you.

First a funny thing I just heard on the radio an hour ago: The electronic voting machines being tested in some areas of France include a "spoil this vote" button, along with the usual "Oui" and "Non".

The french Greens are using the ESF's "Another Europe..." slogan to campaign for the Treaty. I guess I understand where they're coming from, and though I never got involved in the ESF much it bugs me that they'd use that slogan to promote something like this.

The anti-Treaty Right have spent half their time speaking about the opposition to Turkey joinging the EU (which has, ahem, nothing to do witht the Treaty)....

I'll write more tonight! :-)